An incapable Spain crashes against Poland

We were led to believe that Sweden was bad luck. That Spain were stepping on the opposition's penalty area and the misfortune made it impossible to score goals. That Morata's problem was temporary or that Gerard would fix the problem. They had to wait until they were up against a team in need and with a leader up front like Lewandowski to get the better of La Roja. 

Luis Enrique brought on Gerard Moreno against Poland, but left Morata in the starting eleven. During the week he praised the Juventus striker to no end. He challenged the press by saying that "Morata and ten more" would play. An obsession provoked by his bad relationship with the media, who pointed the finger at him for keeping the Madrid striker on the pitch against Sweden just as they reproached him for keeping Llorente wasted at full-back. 

Spain are playing nothing recognisable. Luis Enrique is twisting the players to adapt to a system that is too precise and leaves them no room for manoeuvre on the pitch. Koke, Gerard, Morata and Dani Olmo were replaced by Sarabia, Oyarzabal, Fabián Ruiz and Ferrán Torres. Substitutions that did not change the scheme and that dispersed the rest of the teammates who did not know how to face each attack. Pedri played on the wing, far away from the box. Koke and Rodri were not partners with whom to combine to attack Poland's goal with guarantees. Luis Enrique relies on the young Barça player because he insists on a 4-3-3 system that cancels out the two centre forwards. 

Gerard and Morata in attack were a cheap magic trick by the national coach. To field the player he needs and not take out the player he has too many of so as not to give the journalists he hates so much a reason to be right. His methods are detrimental to Spain because putting two strikers up front does not guarantee more goals. It's from Football First. Morata scored the first goal and went to celebrate with his top defender on the bench. His life is already based on constantly demonstrating that he resents any judgement made about him. He doesn't enjoy himself on the pitch. The goal was a mirage because Spain neither dominated nor generated enough football to win the big prize. 

Two up front didn't make the goal any easier. Morata is good in the air, in positional play, but Gerard has a more vertical style of play and is dangerous when he is in the box in transition. Luis Enrique must not know that and ended the game praising that the Juventus player did some very important dark work. Simple excuses for not lowering his coaching attack and sticking to the players and their abilities. 

Lewandowski's goal resembles many of the goals he has scored throughout his career. A leap in the box and a header against the post. If we rewind that goal we have to accuse Laporte of being ineffective in his marking. A ball from the flank, with the Spanish defence in the zone and with superiority in the area. The Bayern striker ran onto the former France player, off-balanced him and finished with pleasure. This is where the question arises as to whether that touch would have made it so easy for Ramos or Albiol to bite the dust.

Spain panicked and clung more tightly to Luis Enrique's tactics. Everything was predictable. Not a single player pulled his weight to drag his teammates to get the second goal. Eleven icebergs and Unai Simón cooling the Poles with a great save that could have been a national disaster like the ones before. The Spanish national team lacks character. It's not about playing with "balls", it's about having them to go with an idea. But Spain has neither. We don't know anymore if Spain will be in the top six or in the top six going home. Looking at the play of France, Portugal, Germany or England it's almost better that we don't cross paths until the World Cup.

And on top of all this the site where Spain play their games. Villar's RFEF managed to bring a European Championship to Spain and now La Roja are playing on a wasteland on the outskirts of Seville. The grass has improved very little because the heat doesn't allow much more. The proximity of the public that other stadiums like Wembley or the Allianz Arena have, not to mention the miracle of Budapest, La Cartuja does not have. If UEFA has gone ahead with tickets at 180 euros, the RFEF wants blue tarpaulins to cheer on the national team. The nearest spectator is 30 metres from the dry grass and their screams are lost. It's no excuse, it's true, but to sabotage Spain's game like this because of Luis Rubiales' business dealings with the Junta de Andalucía is an embarrassment. 

Spain will play their first final against Slovakia in the last group game. The only thing they need to do is win because anything else would be to return to the fire road of the Clemente era. Bad relations with the press, poor football and early eliminations. Another issue is whether Luis Enrique wants to change something between now and Wednesday or whether he prefers to die killing.